Concrete mixing apparatus



Jan. 16, 1934. A. KNOWLES CONCRETE MIXING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY INVENTORT Jan. 16, 1934. KNOWLES CONCRETE MIXING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24. 1931 2 Sheetsfiheet 2 INVE TOR WM BY ff.

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ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 16, 1934 V PATENT OFFICE CONCRETE MIXING APPARATUS I Albert Knowles, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Transit Mixers Inc.,

Nevada a corporation of Application February 24, 1931. Serial No. 517,900

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in concrete mixing apparatus.

An object of my invention is to provide improved concrete mixing apparatus embodying mechanism operable by the propelling means of a vehicle for rotating a mixing drum mounted thereon, as well as independent means which permits the rotation of the mixing drum independently of the said propelling means, when the said drum is in either a normal or a tilted position.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved concrete mixer of the tilta-ble type embodying means for rotating a mixing drum by the propelling means of the vehicle on which it is mounted as well as independent means mounted on the vehicle whichenables the drum to be rotated while in a tilted position, and control means mounted within reach of the operator of the vehicle which permits the rotation of the mixing drum to be conveniently controlled from the operators seat on the vehicle.

A still further object of my invention is to provide improved concrete mixing apparatus of the tiltable type, embodying a vehicle, a frame tiltably mounted on the vehicle, a mixing drum on the frame, means mounted on the frame for rotating the drum while in a tilted or a normal position, and one or more controls for the said means.

Other objects more or less apparent will present themselves or will be specifically pointed out in the description to follow.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention;

,Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the motor controls showing parts of the housing broken away and in section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the control mechanism for the hoist, showing parts of the supporting structure in vertical section; and

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a partof the apparatus shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 represent, respectively, the front and rear wheels of a suitable vehicle on which is mounted a chassis or frame 3. The vehicle is provided, in the usual manner, with a suitable motor which serves as a source of power for operating the said vehicle as well as means for actuating an auxiliary transmission, suitably connected thereto and encased in a housing 4.

Mounted on the chassis 3, and movably connected to the rear end thereof as by pivots 5, is

a supplemental frame 6 which is connected at its forward end by suitable cables 7, to a hoist 8 mounted on the vehicle. The hoist may be operated in any one of a number of well known ways, such as by compressed air or liquid delivered thereto by a pumping mechanism 9 actuated by the vehicle motor.

Rotatably mounted on the supplemental frame 6 is a mixing drum 10 having a number of suitable blades 10 extending inwardly from its side walls. The mixing drum is securely held upon the supplemental frame 6 as by a band 11 which extends over the said drum and is secured at ends thereof to the said supplemental frame. The band 11 is provided with a number of spaced rollers 12 which permit the rotation of the mixing 'drum when it is moved to a tilted dumping position.

Securely mounted on the supplemental frame 6 is an engine or motor 13 having a drive shaft 14 which is rotatably. mounted at its rear end within a suitable bearing carried by the said supplemental frame. The shaft 14 carries a gear 15 which meshes with the teeth of an annular rack or ring gear 16 secured to and extending around the drum 10. The forward end of the drive shaft 14 is provided with a gear 17 which is normally in mesh with a gear 18 secured to a stub shaft 19, the said stub shaft'being rotatably mounted in suitable bearings secured to the chassis 3 of the vehicle. The stub shaft is provided with a sprocket 20 over which extendsan endless chain 21, the said chain also extending over a similar sprocket associated with and adapted to be actuated by the auxiliary transmission mounted in the housing 4. Control of the auxiliary transmission for the purpose of causing the drive shaft 14 to be actuated. by the motive power of the vehicle, may be secured by a lever member 22 which is connected to the said transmission through a rod 23 and a suitable clutch mechanism. The lever member is located in the cab 24 of the vehicle and within reach of the drivers seat. The engine 13 is so constructed that the shaft 14 thereof may be rotated by the motive power of the vehicle or by the power developed by the engine or by the power developed by both sources.

Secured to two oppositely disposed arms of a throttle 25 of the engine 13, is a flexible cable 26 which extends rearwardly through a protective casing 27 and encircles and is secured, as by a screw, to a pulley 28. The pulley 28 is housed within a box 29 rotatably mounted on a shaft 30, the said shaft being rotatably supported within a similar box 31 secured to the rear end of the supplemental frame 6. The shaft 30 is keyed to a pulley 28 and is provided with a handle 32 which serves as convenient means for rotating the said shaft and the pulleys thereon. Also-keyed to the shaft 30 and housed within the box 31, is a pulley 33 which mounts and is secured as by a screw, to a forwardly extending cable 34. The cable 34 is housed within a protective casing 35 secured at one end to the box 31, and is also mounted on and secured, as by a screw, to a pulley 36 fixedly mounted on a short rod 3'7. The rod 37 is rotatably mounted in the box 38. located within or near the cab 24 of the vehicle, and is provided with an operating handle 39. means such as that just described, the throttle 25 may be conveniently manipulated from the driver's seat or from the rear of the vehicle. By actuating either of the operating handles 32 or 39, the various pulleys on which the cables 26 and 34 are mounted, are turned in unison, thereby causing the throttle 25 to admit either a greater or lesser amount of fuel to the engine, depending upon the manner in which the operating handles are moved. Owing to the pivotal arrangement of boxes 29 and 31, the supplemental frame 6 with the mixing drum 10 and the engine 13 thereon, may be tilted by the hoist 8 without danger of damaging the cables 26 and 34 or their protective casings.

Suitably supported by the supplemental frame 6 is a tank 40 which is connected to a pump 41 by a pipe 42. The pump connects with a suitable water discharging means 43 located in the drum 10, and through suitable connecting means such as gears, it may be actuated by the drive shaft 14. Although not shown on thedrawings, any conventional control means may be provided for the purpose of controlling the action of the pump.

The pump 9, which serves as means for actuating the hoist, is provided with a suitable operating rod 44 that is fastened to a cable 44! leading from a lever member 45 located in the cam.24 to an operating handle 46 pivotally mounted at the rear of the chassis 3. The driver or operat-or of the vehicle may conveniently control the movement of the hoist 8 by operating either the lever member 45 or the operating handle 46. Upon raising the front end of the supplemental frame 6 by means of the hoist 8, the gears 17 and 18 are disengaged, thereby disconnecting the drive shaft 14 from the motor of the vehicle. After the gears 17 and 18 have been disconnected, and through the proper manipulation of either of the handles 32 and 39, the engine may be actuated to rotate the drive shaft 14 at any desirable speed, independently of the motive power of the vehicle. In order tocause the mixing drum to rotate while in a tilted position and thereby effect the discharge of the concrete material through the opening in the rear end of the same, the engine 13 may be operated while in a tilted position for any desired length of time.

When the mixing drum is in its normal posi tion and it is desirable to rotate the same by By providing control means of the engine 13 only, the lever member 22 may be manipulated so as to disengage the auxiliary transmission from the sprocket associated therewith, thereby disconnecting the vehicle motor from the drive shaft 14.

It is apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form and construction of my improved concrete mixing apparatus, so for this and other apparent reasons I desire my invention included broadly within the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim 1. Concrete mixing apparatus comprising a vehicle having propelling means thereon, a frame tiltably mounted on the vehicle, an engine mounted on the frame, a mixing drum rotatably mounted on the frame, and means operatively connecting said mixing element with both the engine and the propelling means, whereby the mixing element may be operated at one and the same time by both the engine and the propelling means.

2. Concrete mixing apparatus comprising a vehicle having propelling means thereon, a mixing drum rotatabiy'mounted on the vehicle, an engine mounted on the vehicle, drive means operatively connecting the mixing drum with both the propelling means and the engine, whereby the mixing drum may be operated at one and the same time by both the propelling means and the engine, and means for disconnecting the drive means from the propelling means, whereby the engine may operate the mixing drum independently of the propelling means.

3. Concrete mixing apparatus comprising a yehicle having propelling means thereon, a subframe tiltably mounted on the vehicle, a mixing drum mounted on the sub-frame, an engine mounted on the sub-frame. a hoist for tilting the sub-frame, mixing drum, and engine, drive means operatively connecting the mixing drum with both the propelling means and the engine, whereby the mixing drum may be operated at one and the same time by both the propelling means and the engine, and means for disconnecting the drive means from the propelling means,

whereby the engine may operate the mixing drum when it is in a tilted position.

4. Concretemixing apparatus comprising a vehicle, a mixing drum tiltably mounted on the vehicle, a hoist operatively connected to the mixing drum for tilting the said mixing drum, an engine mounted on the vehicle and operatively connected to the mixing drum, propelling means for the vehicle, means connecting the propelling means and the engine, whereby the mixing drum may be operated by power derived simultaneously from both the propelling means and the engine, and means for disconnecting the propelling means from the engine when the said mixing drum is moved to a tilted position, whereby the engine may operate the mixing drum independently of the propelling means when the said drum is in a tilted position.

v I ALBERT KNOWLES. 

